The 2006 American Midterm Election Day Thread

I went to the gigantic dem returns watch party on the hill. it was awesome. right before emanuel and schumer came out to speak the webb 50% / allen 49% came up on CNN and everyone went crazy. bye, sen. macaca!

I was actually thinking that earlier tonight!

Howard Dean: “Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emanuel deserve an enormous amount of credit.” He then plugged his 50-state program (CNN). More Dean: "I'm delighted because we're finally beginning to become a national party again after all these years" (CNN).

DNC chairman Howard Dean: “Today the American people sent a clear message for a new direction. Voting for hope and opportunity, they rejected the Republican culture of corruption and the politics of fear and smear. I want to congratulate all of our Democratic candidates who ran strong campaigns, worked hard, and offered the American people a clear choice and a strong vision for a new direction based on the priorities of the American people. The American voters also sent a message to Democrats that if we show up, work hard and ask for their vote, we can win in any part of the country. I also want to congratulate Representatives Emanuel and Pelosi, Senators Reid and Schumer, DGA Chair Governor Bill Richardson and DLCC Chair Joan Fitz-Gerald, Colorado State Senate President, for their hard work. Our work doesn't end tonight; it begins tomorrow as we put forward an agenda that puts the American people first. Democrats are unified and ready to change the tone of politics in Washington to get things done for the American people.”

Howard Dean will appear at the Nat’l Press Club at 10:00 am ET today.

McCain, asked when he first noticed corruption becoming a problem: "Seven or eight years ago."

ABC showed a minute of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) victory speech live. Clinton said: “I just think that democracy is great.”

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), on going to IA and NH: “I would really shake up everybody if I did that” (Palm Beach Post blog).

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) on what he said to a conceding Katherine Harris (R): “I told her that I had seen her on TV today out in the rain… and that I hoped she had dried off.” (“The Buzz”).

Dick Gephardt, stating the obvious: "This is like the '94 election, but in reverse" (MSNBC).

Also: MSNBC’s Matthews noted that Gephardt has not gotten fat.

Newsweek's Fineman, on what helped Whitehouse in RI: "He was a homeboy, too" (MSNBC).

NBC's Williams, playing SEN favorites: "The Montana race has been one of my favorites" (MSNBC).

Channeling Yoda, ABC's Gibson: "Exciting it will be indeed tonight."

ABC's Gibson, on being sort of amused: "I'm sort of amused that we will have a Whitehouse in the Senate"

Comedy Central’s Dan Rather said HRC “ran away with it like a hobo with a sweet potato pie.”

More Rather, on PA 10: “If you ain’t got the yolk, you can’t emulsify the Hollandaise. … It’s simple, Jon. If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t eat your pudding.”

Rather: “I realized pretty early on that I was just a four dollar gopher in a two dollar pelt.” Stewart: “That’s an insult, right?” Rather: “Yes it is, Jon.”

CBS’s Schieffer, on flight patterns: “This airplane is landing exactly at the airport we thought it would.”

NBC's Gregory: "The president I'm told is likely to retire some time soon tonight" (MSNBC).

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), in his acceptance speech: “Thank you, thank you, thank you! ….Thank you, Lord! (FNS). Menendez will greet diners at IHOP tomorrow (release).

Stephen Colbert has two cakes: “Congratulations Republicans,” says one. The other: “Congratulations Terrorists.”

Tonight the USA Network aired “End of Days,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (Political Punch). Meanwhile, EW.com has a cute article on how Britney Spears filed for divorce on a day many states vote on gay marriage.
, (Pop Watch.Ew.com)

It is reported Joe Negron (R) left his party crying after losing to Tim Mahoney (D) in FL 16 (MSNBC).

Bill Bennett on CNN: "You will see a draft movement for Rick Santorum to run for president of the United States."

Ken Mehlman, speaking in third person about the war in Iraq: "The chairman is not out there saying I understand the nuance of policy" (MSNBC).

LOVE ME CHICKEN TENDER: FNC's Baier reports, senior WH aides are saying that the mood at the WH is "generally upbeat." Also, the senior WH staff "just ordered chicken tenders," anticipating a long night (FNC)

ABC's Donvan reports that Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) has lost his voice.

RedState is calling for scrubbing of Rep. Denny Hastert (R-IL) and election of Rep. Mike Pence (R-06) as leader of the House GOP and Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) as Whip. "The Directors" of RedState describe the GOP as "rudderless" under the leadership of a White House governing without "conservative principles first" and call on all GOPers to "decisively reject the idea of "big government conservatism." (The Blogometer)

"MSNBC's Matthews, observing the celebratory behavior at the Dems' HQ: "Rahm Emanuel appears to be doing some kind of dance."

MO SEN: Claire McCaskill came on stage to “Respect” (MSNBC). McCaskill, addressing supporters: "This election was not about me. This election was about you" (MSNBC). Talent conceded at 2:03 am ET. Talent, addressing supporters: "All our efforts fell a little bit short this time."

MT SEN: FNC's Shepard Smith, after hearing U.S. News’ Barone's analysis of the MT race: "I'm not sure what just happened" (FNC).

I'm sort of in love with Chuck Todd by now

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) on what he said to a conceding Katherine Harris (R): “I told her that I had seen her on TV today out in the rain… and that I hoped she had dried off.” (“The Buzz”).

!

xpost

It’s simple, Jon. If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t eat your pudding.”

hahaha

Past Bush's veto?

Schumer said McCaskill and Tester both on track to win (this was at 11:30 or so EST).

if I'm counting right, we've picked up 28 seats, with a solid chance to pick up another 6

that's where the smarts come in - figuring out what's possible, where bush will cave, so at least something gets done before he's shown the door.

from CNN.com right now, for "most watched" vids:

1. Clinton victory speech (3:29)
2. Kirstie Alley's new look (3:17)
3. Sour note at CMA awards (:40)
4. Analysis on Santorum (4:01)

God Bless American Culture

in other news:

webb at 9500 in lead, at 99%.
-Fairfax City at 86% (webb up)
-Isle of Wight at 92% (allen up)
-Loudoun at 96% (webb up)

I'm disappointed that Jean Schmidt from Ohio was re-elected.

Unfortunately, John Laesch lost to Denny "No Longer Speaker of Jack Shit" Hastert by 39K, which ain't actually too bad for a newbie union carpenter in a conservative suburb.

Shimkus won, too, so maybe the damage from Foley was minimized.

Really.

we're taking the senate!

the only races it really impacted, it seems, were Foley's district and KS-2

PENSACOLA, Florida (AP) -- The White House did not hide its irritation Monday at Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist for ducking President Bush at a campaign rally in the Republican-friendly Panhandle.

looks like he chose well, too. dude won by 320K.

Jon Tester -- Stan Jones -- Conrad Burns -- Total Votes
County Totals -- 140883 -- 6856 -- 132183 -- 279922